ACE Interview Craig Evans "Recent Discoveries of New Testament Manuscripts"

Summary

In this discussion, Dr. Craig Evans and Josh Chatraw explore recent discoveries of New Testament manuscripts. Dr. Evans explains the importance of finding early copies of these texts and highlights the abundance of ancient Greek manuscripts, with some fragments dating as far back as the second century. A potentially groundbreaking discovery—a fragment of the Gospel of Mark from the first century—could further confirm the stability and consistency of the New Testament texts. The conversation emphasizes how these findings support the reliability of the manuscript tradition, challenging skepticism from scholars like Bart Ehrman.

Takeaways

• 📜 We have approximately 5,800 Greek New Testament manuscripts, either whole or fragments, dating before the Gutenberg press.
• 🏛️ Dozens of these manuscripts date prior to the time of Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicaea (325 AD).
• ⏳ Scholars are seeking manuscripts as close to the first century as possible, with a few already dating to the second century.
• 🔍 There are tens of thousands of manuscripts yet to be examined, including non-Christian and non-biblical texts.
• 🎭 Fragments of manuscripts have been recovered from ancient papier-mâché materials, including mummy masks, revealing writings on used papyrus.
• 🕵️ Techniques have been developed to dissolve the glue of cartonnage without damaging the papyrus, allowing scholars to read the ancient text.
• 📖 Fragments of the New Testament, including possible fragments of the Gospel of Mark, have been discovered and might date back to the first century.
• 📝 A significant sample of early New Testament fragments shows that the text is stable and consistent across manuscripts.
• 🤔 Critics like Bart Ehrman raise concerns about the gap between the original texts and the manuscripts, but new discoveries close this gap, reinforcing confidence in the manuscript tradition.
• 📚 The Greek New Testament is considered very well-preserved and stable, with experts from various disciplines acknowledging its textual reliability compared to other ancient literature.

Q & A

What are New Testament manuscripts, and how do they differ from autographs?

New Testament manuscripts are handwritten copies of the original texts, whereas autographs refer to the original documents themselves. We don't have the autographs, only copies of copies.

How many Greek New Testament manuscripts have been discovered so far?

Approximately 5,800 Greek New Testament manuscripts, either complete or fragments, have been discovered.

Why are early New Testament manuscripts prior to Emperor Constantine considered important?

Manuscripts from before Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) are significant because they provide insight into the early textual history of the New Testament, making them key for scholars working to reconstruct the original text.

What is the value of finding manuscripts close to the first century?

Finding manuscripts close to the first century is valuable because it reduces the time gap between when the texts were originally written and the earliest surviving copies, providing a more accurate representation of the original text.

What discoveries have been made from cartonnage and mummy masks?

Fragments of second-century New Testament texts and early Greek translations of the Old Testament (Septuagint) have been recovered from cartonnage, a form of ancient papier-mâché used in mummy masks and other objects.

Why is the potential discovery of a first-century fragment of the Gospel of Mark significant?

If confirmed, the discovery of a first-century fragment of the Gospel of Mark would be the oldest known New Testament fragment, giving scholars direct evidence of early New Testament textual transmission.

How does finding early manuscript fragments help scholars confirm the stability of the text?

Finding early fragments and seeing that they match the later manuscripts suggests that the New Testament text remained stable and consistent over time, providing confidence in its preservation.

What is Bart Ehrman’s argument about the gap between the original New Testament writings and the earliest manuscripts?

Bart Ehrman argues that there is a large gap between when the originals were written and the surviving manuscripts, creating uncertainty about what might have changed during that time.

What has been observed from manuscript samples dating to the second and third centuries?

Manuscripts from the second and third centuries show that the New Testament text has been stable, with no significant surprises or alterations, reinforcing its preservation.

How does the preservation of the Greek New Testament compare to other ancient literature?

The preservation of the Greek New Testament is in a league of its own compared to other ancient literature, being exceptionally well-preserved and stable according to both Christian and non-Christian scholars.